U.S. patent number 6,283,856 [Application Number 09/267,464] was granted by the patent office on 2001-09-04 for patron and croupier assessment in roulette.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Grips Electronics Ges. m.b.H. Invention is credited to Ewald Mothwurf.
United States Patent |
6,283,856 |
Mothwurf |
September 4, 2001 |
Patron and croupier assessment in roulette
Abstract
A method for determining the total amount bet by individual
players participating in multiple spins of a roulette game at a
gaming table that has a chipper machine and an intelligent table
terminal. The method involves interfacing the chipper sorting
machine with the table terminal, allocating a chip to a patron at
the terminal, counting the number of color chips sorted by the
chipper machine per color, and associating the number of color
chips sorted by the machine per color with the patron. The total
amount bet by that patron is then determined by mathematically
linking the chip value of the color chip of the patron with the
number of chips of the individual color sorted by the chipper
machine in the time period in which the color chip is associated
with that patron.
Inventors: |
Mothwurf; Ewald (Graz,
AT) |
Assignee: |
Grips Electronics Ges. m.b.H
(Graz, AT)
|
Family
ID: |
23018887 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/267,464 |
Filed: |
March 12, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/17;
273/138.2; 273/274; 273/309; 463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/32 (20130101); G07F 17/3234 (20130101); G07F
17/3239 (20130101); G07F 17/3241 (20130101); G07F
17/3262 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
17/32 (20060101); A63F 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/138.1,138.2,274,309
;463/25,29,17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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573 635 |
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Mar 1976 |
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CH |
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3128094 A1 |
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Feb 1983 |
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DE |
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3137484 A1 |
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Apr 1983 |
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DE |
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3403018 A1 |
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Aug 1985 |
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DE |
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3436287 A1 |
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Apr 1986 |
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DE |
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3515890 A1 |
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Nov 1986 |
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DE |
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3939450 A1 |
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Jun 1991 |
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DE |
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4328792 C1 |
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Dec 1994 |
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DE |
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4439502 C1 |
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Sep 1995 |
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DE |
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0310761 |
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Apr 1989 |
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EP |
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0416751 A2 |
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Mar 1991 |
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EP |
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0607823 A1 |
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Jul 1994 |
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EP |
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0607823 B1 |
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Sep 1998 |
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EP |
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WO 95/28996 |
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Nov 1995 |
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WO |
|
Other References
Soviet Inventions Illustrated, Section E1 (Abstracts) week 8535,
London: Derwent Publications Ltd., N85 162 294, T04, T05, SU 1140
137 A (Don Gibrougleavtoma), Oct. 9, 1985..
|
Primary Examiner: Layno; Benjamin H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Townsend and Townsend and Crew
LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for determining the total amount bet by individual
patrons participating in a plurality of spins of a roulette game at
a gaming table fitted with a chipper machine and an intelligent
table terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
interfacing the chipper sorting machine to the table terminal
allocating a patron a chip color at the table terminal
counting the number of color chips sorted by the chipper machine
per color
associating the number of color chips sorted by the chipper machine
per color with the patron
and determining the total amount bet by that patron by
mathematically linking the chip value of the color chip of the
patron with the number of chips of the individual color sorted by
the chipper machine in the time period in which the color chip is
associated with that patron.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of
entering the chip value at the table terminal if the color chip is
not played with the default table minimum value.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of
allocating a patron not using color chips an individual value
chip.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of
compensating for chips sorted but not played by reducing the number
of sorted chips by a percentage.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of
storing information relating to the number of chips sorted per
color and spin in a data processing system and associating time
signals with any such storage information.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of
displaying the color chips on a display board indicating the value
of color chips allocated to patrons on the display board.
7. A method in accordance with claim 6 including the step of
offering a win calculator at the table terminal on which the number
of winning chips per chance for an individual chip color or chip
value are entered, and calculating the numbers of chips won and a
payout based on the number of winning chips per chance, the number
of chips won per chance and the chip value of the color chip using
the chip value of the color chip known to the system.
8. A method in accordance with claim 7 including the step of
showing some or all of the number of winning chip per chance, the
number of chips won per chance, the total number of chips won,
and/or the total value of chips won.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8 including the step of
proposing the said payout in the form of a number of color chips
and a balance in an amount of value chips, taking into account the
limited number of color chips available on the table.
10. A method in accordance with claim 1 including the further step
of determining the performance of the croupier from information
stored in the data processing system at the start of the croupier
gaming and during the croupier gaming at the table during the
playing of a plurality of spins, e.g. by determining the average
duration of a spin, the number of patrons, the number of color
chips played or sorted.
11. A method for determining the total amount bet by individual
patrons participating in a plurality of spins of a roulette game at
a gaming table, in which said individual patrons play using chips
having different colors, a respective color being associated with
each said individual patron, there being a chipper machine for
receiving chips collected by a croupier during the game of roulette
and for arranging the chips according to their coloring in
respective columns, from which the coupier can take stacks of a
predetermined number of chips of a respective color, each chip of a
particular color having an associated monetary value, the method
comprising the steps of counting the total number of chips of each
color passing through the chipper machine during the period each
individual patron is present at said gaming table, and establishing
the total monetary value of the chips of each color passing through
the chipper machine.
12. A method in accordance with claim 11 and including the further
step of estimating from said number of chips or from said total
monetary value the total amount bet by an individual patron playing
with chips of the said color.
13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the step of
estimating comprises the step of subtracting from the total number
of chips of each color passing through the chipper machine, or from
said monetary value a percentage reflecting the house rules on the
breaking of stacks.
14. A method, in particular in accordance with claim 11, of
determining the total win or loss by a patron participating in a
game of roulette, the method comprising the steps of determining
the total amount of all pay-ins made during the game by capturing
at a table terminal a piece of information identifying the player,
and each buy-in or drop amount irrespective of the method of
payment, determining the walk amount at the end of the patron's
game in the form of value chips and/or cancelled markers, and
establishing the difference between the total amount of all pay-ins
and the walk amount.
15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein pay-ins in the
form of value chips are detected automatically by the change in
value of a chip tray associated with the roulette table.
16. A method in accordance with claim 11 and comprising the further
steps of determining when a new croupier arrives at the gaming
table, summing the total amounts bet by all patrons playing at the
gaming table during the period in which the new croupier is working
at the gaming table with reference to the chips of all colors
sorted by the chipper machine during this period, and
electronically associating the sum of the total amounts bet to the
croupier.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein a statistical
correction is added to said sum of the total amounts bet to reflect
the numbers of chips returned to the chipper machine due to the
breaking of chip stacks when paying winnings to individual
patrons.
18. A method in accordance with claim 16, comprising recording the
sum of the total amount bet during each working period of a
particular croupier for a plurality of working periods of that
croupier and forming a total sum of the amounts bet over a
plurality of working periods of said croupier.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, an approximate determination of the individual patrons
participating in a game of roulette has been effected by the pit
supervisors/floor persons. These are employees of the casino who
attempt to estimate the average bet of each patron, the number of
games per hour and also the time each patron plays at the table,
and thus the turnover, profit or loss of the individual casino
visitors, through the observation of the progress of the gaming.
Disadvantages of this method are the high costs of personnel and
the inaccuracy of the determination of the turnover, profit or loss
of patrons, the possibility of floor persons favoring one or more
patrons but paying no attention to other patrons.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to avoid the disadvantages of the
known systems and to set forth a method and an apparatus with which
the determination of the turnover of individual patrons is possible
in a reliable manner.
It is a further object of the invention to determine the win or
loss of individual patrons.
It is a further object of the invention to enable the croupier
performance to be assessed.
It is a yet further object of the invention to acquire the data
required for assessing the patrons turnover and the croupier
performance in a relatively simple and reliable manner which does
not place an extreme burden on the croupier, but rather helps the
croupier with complex win calculations.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the
following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Patron Bet and Number of Games
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of estimating the total amount bet and the number
of games played by an individual patron participating in a game of
roulette and playing with chips of a specific nature, for example
of a specific coloring or size or shape or pattern, comprising the
step of counting the number of chips of that specific nature, which
pass through a chipper machine associated with the game of roulette
while the patron is playing.
In a preferred method of this kind for determining the total amount
bet by the individual patrons participating in a plurality of spins
of a roulette game at a gaming table fitted with a chipper machine
and an intelligent table terminal capable of interpreting data from
the chipper machine, from an electronic chip tray and from a
roulette number reader, the method comprises the steps of
interfacing the chipper machine to the table terminal
allocating a patron a chip color at the table terminal
counting the number of color chips sorted by the chipper machine
per color
associating the number of color chips sorted by the chipper machine
per color with the patron
and determining the total amount bet by that patron by
mathematically linking the chip value of the color chip of the
patron with the number of chips of the individual color sorted by
the chipper machine in the time period in which the color chip is
associated with that patron
The invention is based on the realization that the number of chips
of any particular color sorted by the chipper machine, although not
actually a precise measurement of the total amount bet by the
patron using that color, is nevertheless closely related to the
total amount bet and can thus be used as a reliable indication of
the total amount bet. The inaccuracy results from the practice of
breaking stacks of chips when paying patrons their winnings, with
the non-used chips being returned to the chipper machine. Since the
number of chips returned in this way is statistically related to
the roulette game, as will be explained later in more detail, it is
readily possible to make a statistical correction to the total
number of chips of any one color passing through the chipper
machine in order to arrive at a total value which is a close
approximation to the total amount bet by the individual patron
playing with that color of chip.
Since it is possible to assess the total amount bet by each patron
playing at the gaming table in this way, it is also possible to sum
the total amounts bet by all patrons playing at the gaming table
during the period in which a particular croupier is working at the
gaming table, and thus it is possible to assess the total turnover
achieved by the croupier during each working period.
Patron Win/Loss
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of estimating the win and loss of an individual
patron during his playing period on a gaming table. The concept for
the win and loss capture is to capture all value movements between
the patron and the table. Every buy in (drop) with bank bills or
markers at the table is entered by the croupier at the table
terminal and allocated to the playing position. The same applies to
a partial or total pay back of a marker by a patron. The movement
of value chips can be estimated by the concept of distinguishing
between "play chips" and "pay chips" at the gaming-table. At
roulette tables play chips are normally color chips, value chips
are used as pay chips.
Whenever value chips are used as play chips for placing bets, the
croupier will not handle these chips in and out of the chip tray
but rather store them in stacks of twenty like he does with color
chips and will handle them the same way as color chips so that they
do not hit the chip tray with every spin, i.e. do not change the
value of the chips in the chip tray.
Whenever a pay (value-) chip movement is detected by the chip tray,
which is equipped with a system for detecting the instantaneous
value of the chips on the chip tray, and thus also the change in
value of the chip tray for any pay in or pay out, the table
terminal prompts a screen asking to croupier to enter the playing
position to which the pay chip movement belongs. The monitoring of
movements of pay chips into and out of the chip tray together with
the capture of all buy ins (drops) and the repayment of markers
thus allows the capture of the win/loss per patron. The win loss is
the patrons net buy in (drop minus repayment of markers) plus the
balance of the pay chips spent and received.
Croupier Assessment
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method of estimating the performance of a croupier at a
roulette table, comprising the steps of summing, for each period
the croupier is working at the roulette table, the various figures
captured during each working period.
The performance figures per virtue are combined into a croupier
score with a breakdown of individual scores per segment. Data are
captured from every dealer work period of in average 45 minutes a
dealer works at a table between breaks.
Croupier financial result--win/loss, turnover, win percentage,
drop
Croupier working speed--number of spins corrected for active player
positions and chips placed by patrons
Croupier attracting patrons--number of positions active: average,
increasing/decreasing during work period
Croupier encouraging play--average bet (relative to table minimum):
average, increasing/decreasing during work period
In order to compensate for the influence of the time of the day the
performance indicators "croupier attracting patrons" and "croupier
encouraging play" are relative to all other croupiers on tables at
the same time.
The financial result is derived from the total amount bet by each
of the patrons participating in the game of roulette during each
working period, or during a fraction of that period, wherein the
individual patrons play using chips having different colors, the
respective colors being associated with each said individual
patron, and wherein a chipper machine is provided for receiving
chips collected by a croupier during the game of roulette and for
arranging the chips according to their color in respective columns,
from which the croupier can take stacks of a predetermined number
of chips of a respective color, each chip of a particular color
having an associated monetary value, the method comprising the
steps of counting the total number of chips of each color passing
through the chipper machine during the period each individual
patron is present at said gaming table, and establishing the total
monetary value of the chips of each color passing through the
chipper machine.
The above information is of great interest to a casino. For example
"Frequent Player Programs" are based on the theoretical casino
advantage derived from the patron's bet. Alternatively, if a patron
has suffered a significant loss, then the casino is interested in
retaining the patron as a customer and may choose to give him a
gratuity in some form as a consolation prize.
On the hand, should a patron consistently make substantial wins at
a roulette table, then there is always the suspicion that the
patron is participating in an unfair practice and the casino is
alerted to observe a particular patron carefully.
The casino is also interested in monitoring the performance of the
croupier. For example, the number of spins of the roulette wheel
per working period and/or the total numbers of chips sorted by the
chipper machine during each working period of a croupier is one
useful indication of a croupier's performance.
The ability to determine the amount of win or loss achieved by a
croupier in each working period is of significant importance to a
casino to determine if the croupier is within the statistical
pay-out percentage limits over a period of time.
It is known from a statistical analysis of the game of roulette,
that there is a built-in house advantage which amounts to 2.7% in
the case of French roulette, or 5.4% in the case of American
roulette. That is to say, the average win of the casino is 2.7% of
the total turnover in the case of French roulette and 5.4% in the
case of American roulette. Thus a good croupier can be expected to
achieve a net profit for the casino close to 2.7% for French
roulette, or close to 5.4% for American roulette. If a croupier
consistently achieves a lower return for the casino then there is
always the suspicion that he is either not up to the job or is
involved in some unfair practice, such as paying incorrect amounts
to the patrons when the patrons have won, or so-called section
spinning in which the croupier is able to preferentially place the
roulette ball in a certain segment of numbers and pockets and thus
to benefit patrons to whose attention he has directed this
possibility.
The present invention provides the key to monitoring both the total
turnover of the croupier and also the win or loss of the croupier
and thus, the average percentage win achieved by the croupier.
However, it is not a simple matter to determine precisely the win
or loss achieved by the croupier. While this might theoretically be
possible by observing every spin of the wheel correctly and by full
assessment of every move on the gaming table, the complications
that arise would in practice at least slow down the game to such an
extent that it would be less profitable, and probably also less
interesting for the players. By way of example it is usual for
croupiers to work for a working period of 45 minutes and to then
take a 15 minute break. Whenever a croupier goes for a break
another croupier will take over the running of the table. It would
be highly unlikely that the amount of money on the table, i.e. the
chips held by the individual patrons, is the same when the croupier
starts work as at the end of his working period. Thus, the number
of chips held by the patrons represents an imponderable value which
prevents an accurate assessment of the win or loss achieved by the
croupier during each working period. Nevertheless, the present
invention recognizes that a good approximation to the total win or
loss achieved by a croupier in each working period can be achieved
by forming the sum of the total pay-ins by the patrons during that
working period and by the change in value of the chip tray. By
observing this win or loss over a fair number of working periods,
for example a month, it is possible to obtain a statistically
reliable assessment of the average win or loss achieved by the
croupier as will later be explained in more detail.
As mentioned above, one unfair practice sometimes encountered is
for a croupier to be practicing section spinning. The present
invention also makes it possible to determine whether a croupier is
practicing section spinning by measuring, for a plurality of spins
of a roulette wheel, one or more of the following parameters and
finding out if these parameters have the normal variance of the
average croupier or if this croupier is spinning the wheel and ball
in an over consistent pattern:
the initial speed of the ball in the rim of the roulette wheel,
the speed of rotation of the moving roulette wheel when the ball is
initially launched into it, and
the relative position of the roulette wheel to the ball and to the
segment of the casing in which the ball falls and by mathematically
determining whether the estimation of values of the measured
parameter corresponds to an expected statistical distinction or
shows that a suspicious correlation exists between these
values.
Furthermore, the casino management is also able, from the
statistics made available by use of the present invention, to
determine whether, during a period of high correlation of the said
values with one croupier, one or more patrons at the gaming table
enjoys with that croupier wins which are significantly higher
statistically than the casino advantage for the roulette game being
played.
Accordingly, it can be seen from the foregoing that the present
invention provides the casino management with a variety of tools
for assessing the performance of a croupier and the progress of the
game of roulette at a gaming table despite the inability to
precisely measure each of the factors of interest.
Further advantages and benefits of the invention will be apparent
from the further claims. Moreover, the apparatus claims describe
preferred apparatus for carrying out the methods described
above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference
to a preferred embodiment and to the accompanying drawings in which
are shown:
FIG. 1 a schematic plan view of a gaming table equipped for the
game of roulette,
FIG. 2 a schematic diagram illustrating the interfacing of the
various items of the roulette table of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 a possible screen drawing for the selection of color chips
for each of the patrons,
FIG. 4 a possible screen drawing illustrating the so-called drop
amount,
FIG. 5 a possible screen drawing for the association of the chip
value with the color chip,
FIG. 6 a preferred screen layout of the win calculator on the table
terminal,
FIG. 7 a representation of the chip value and payout display,
and
FIG. 8 a table illustrating a croupier's performance measured over
a period of twenty-eight working days.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a roulette table 10 equipped with a variety of
electronic modules for the collection and assessment of data
concerning the patrons and the croupier.
The roulette table 10 is equipped in the usual way with a roulette
wheel generally indicated at 12, a chip sorting machine 14 for
sorting color chips (and value chips with newer chipping machine
versions), hereinafter referred to as a chipper machine, a chip
tray 16 for storing so-called value chips, and a bet placement
field 18 where patrons can place their individual bets. In this
example the bet placement field is configured for American roulette
in as much as it has two zeros (identified in FIG. 1 as 0 and 00,
in contrast to French and English roulette which has only a single
0. The roulette wheel 12 is also configured in this case for
American roulette which means that the number ring will have the
numbers 0 and 00 in addition to the numbers 1 through 36 as
shown.
During the game of roulette, the croupier will normally occupy the
position identified by 20 and the patrons or players will be
arranged around the table as indicated by the reference numerals
22.
In order to practice the present invention in all its ramifications
the roulette table is equipped with further items, namely a table
terminal 24, a roulette number display 26, an automatic number
detection system 28, a chip value and payout display 30, a drop
slot 32, and optionally player stations 34. The automatic number
detection system 28 can be designed in the manner described in
international patent application PCT/EP95/00933 as published in the
international patent publication no. WO 95/28996.
The automatic number detection system makes it possible to detect
which pocket the roulette ball has dropped into and this is
displayed on the roulette number display 26. The automatic number
detection system 28 also has other functions which will be
explained later in further detail.
The chip tray 16 is designed in the same way as the chip tray
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,618 and is thus designed to
provide an electronic output of the total value of chips stored in
the chip tray and to automatically register any changes in the
value of the chip tray. In addition the chip tray 16 is coupled to
the chip value and payout display 30 via the table terminal 24
which will be described later in further detail with reference to
FIG. 7, particularly since this is an optional unit.
The table terminal 24 is configured in the preferred embodiment as
a graphical screen with touch-sensitive data entry at the screen.
Such screens are known per se, for example in connection with
automatic cash dispensing machines. Associated with the table
terminal is a card swipe 36, which permits the croupier 20 to draw
or swipe an identification card of a player through the card swipe.
This enables information on the card, for example relating to the
identity of the player, to be entered into the central data
processing unit (computer) 64 associated with the gaming table, as
will later be explained with reference to FIG. 2. Should the table
be equipped with the optional player stations 34 comprising a
patron card reader, a display and some optional entry buttons, then
these can also be used for the player to enter a card and register
himself at the table. That is to say, the player stations 34, if
provided, are also coupled to the computer 64 via the table
terminal 24.
Finally, FIG. 1 shows a plurality of stacks 38 of color chips
arrayed in front of the croupier 20 around part of the periphery of
the roulette wheel 12.
Although well known to those skilled in the art, a brief
description will now be given of the usual method of playing the
game of roulette, in order to facilitate an understanding of the
present invention.
For the sake of simplicity, we assume the casino has just opened
for play, the croupier 20 is present at his position, and various
players 22 have arranged themselves around the roulette table. It
is usual for each player to play the game of roulette with a
different color chip uniquely associated with him, so that winning
and losing bets can easily be identified.
It is also usual for a minimum bet to be associated with a roulette
table, i.e. the minimum amount which can be bet, which may, for
example, start with $5 or more. That is to say, the minimum value
which each chip can have is, say, $5. However, certain players may
wish to play with higher stakes. Provision is thus made for higher
values to be associated with the color chips of those players 22
wishing to play for higher stakes. In order to make sure that all
players are aware of the value of each chip on the table, a sample
chip of each color is normally hung on a rack, with the monetary
value of the chip being associated with a value indicator in the
rack.
When the game first starts, it is first necessary for each player
22 to acquire a supply of chips for use during the progress of the
game. There are several ways that this can be done. First of all,
it is possible for the player to pass money to the croupier, who
then places the money in the drop slot 32 and passes the
corresponding number of color chips to the player. For this purpose
the croupier would normally take a number of stacks from those
arrayed in front of him, in each case in the color associated with
the respective player. It is a convention that each of the stacks
38 contain 20 chips.
Another possibility is for the individual players 22 to approach
the table with value chips, normally of higher denominations. These
are chips issued by the casino, which can be used at a variety of
gaming tables in the casino and are handed to the player, for
example in exchange for smaller denomination value chips he has
accumulated at a table. Such value chips are placed by the croupier
in the chip tray. Again the player will be given color chips to the
value of the value chips passed by him to the croupier, or he will
be given value chips of the denomination of his choice.
Another possibility is for the player to request a so-called marker
at the table. A marker is effectively a casino check for a certain
sum of money. Again, the marker will be entered at the table
terminal and the croupier will give the player chips to the value
of the marker.
Another possibility is for the player to play with value chips. In
times of heavy play, some casinos allow multiple players to use the
same denominations, in which case the identification of the player
by the type of value chip, is lost which can lead to disputes.
Finally, some jurisdictions such as Nevada permit players to play
with normal money--money play. A patron may place a bet by placing
bank bill(s). The dealer will indicate this fact to the supervisor
by saying "money play". In case the patron wins the dealer will
place the win in the form of value chips and the patron will take
the bills and the value chips or he will leave part of the chips at
the table as the next bet, if the bet is lost the dealer will drop
the money and enter the amount as "money play drop" into the table
terminal and should the patron have signed onto a box already the
amount will be assigned to that position.
Once all the players have acquired a supply of chips, the game may
start. As is well known, the conventional roulette wheel 12
comprises an annular casing 40 containing a static, inwardly
sloping rim 42, within which there is mounted a rotatable cylinder
44. This cylinder 44 has an outer ring of numbers 46 corresponding
to the numbers of the bet placement area 18, and an inner ring of
pockets 48, which, in the same way as the outer numbers ring, is
arranged concentrically to the cylinder. Each of the individual
pockets 48 is associated with one of the numbers on the numbers
ring and is isolated from its neighboring pockets by vertically and
radially disposed separators 50. Inside the ring of pockets 48,
there is a central dome area 52.
In use, the cylinder 44 is spun in the one or other direction and
then a ball is projected by the croupier to run around the rim
inside the annular casing 40. The croupier will spin the ball in
the opposite direction of rotation of the cylinder, The ball will
gradually slow down. The centrifugal force keeping it within the
rim 42 of the wheel 12 will reduce in magnitude, so that the ball
gradually falls down the rim and passes over the numbers ring 46,
where it may bounce off one or more of the separators 50 or off the
dome before eventually landing in one of the pockets 48, which is
the winning pocket, i.e. the winning number.
The players 22 are able to place their bets on the bet placement
area 18 until the ball spinning in the rim 42 has slowed down so
that it leaves the rim 42. For those not familiar with the game of
roulette, it should be noted that it is usual for a player to use
several chips, and indeed to make several bets for each spin of the
roulette wheel.
If a single chip is placed on a single number, then the chance of
that number becoming a winning number is 1:38. This follows from
the fact that in American roulette, there are a total of 38 numbers
on the number ring, namely the numbers zero and double zero and the
numbers 1 to 36, and 38 pockets associated with them (one pocket
for each number).
If a player places a single chip on a single number and loses, then
the chip is scooped by the croupier into a chute 54 associated with
the chipper machine. If, however, the number selected by the player
comes up, then he is given 35 chips by the croupier in addition to
recovering the one chip stake he originally played.
If the player places, say, 4 chips on the single number and the
number wins, then he will be given 4.times.35=140, chips by the
croupier.
Another possibility is for the player to place a chip so that it
straddles two numbers. In this case the chance of winning is 1:17.
If the player wins, on either of these numbers, he is given 17
chips by the croupier for each chip placed by him.
It is also possible for a player to place a chip so that it lies on
four numbers. In this case his chance of winning is increased, but
the returns if he does win are also reduced, and in fact for each
chip placed in such a way he will receive eight further chips from
the croupier and will also have his stake returned to him.
It is also possible for a player to place a bet on five numbers,
for example on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. In this case his
chances of winning are again increased. However, if he does win,
the number of chips he receives from the croupier is reduced to six
for each chip he has bet in this way.
Another possibility is for the player to place a chip on three
numbers. In this case he receives 11 chips from the croupier for
each chip bet. A further possibility is for him to place a bet on
six numbers. In this case he receives five chips from the croupier
for every one he has bet. Yet another possibility is for the player
to bet on columns of twelve numbers. In this case the chance of him
winning is much higher, but if he does win, his win is reduced to
two chips for each chip bet in this way.
It is also possible for a bet to be placed on twelve numbers chosen
other than in columns, for example on the top three by four array
of the numbers 1 to 12, on the middle three by four array of the
numbers 13 to 24, or on the bottom three by four array of the
numbers 25 to 36. Again, the chance of winning is high, but the
returns for a win are low; the croupier will only pay the player
two chips for every one bet.
Another form of bet is possible referred to as a "chance simple",
and involves a bet placed on any one of the number of so-called
"chances", referred to as "rouge", "noir", "pair", "impair",
"manque", "passe". For example "rouge" signifies that the player
bets simply on the color red. In this case the chance of winning is
high, but if the player wins, he only receives one chip from the
croupier, in addition to the chip he originally bet.
Every bet which is not a winning bet is collected by the croupier,
the color and/or value chips are placed in the entrance to the
chute leading to the chipper machine 14. The chips are then sorted
by the chipper machine according to their color and/or value
arranged in stacks within the chipper machine, from which the
croupier can take stacks of twenty chips each to replace those on
the table that he has used up. At this stage it should be noted
that when paying a player for a winning bet, the croupier will take
a whole number of stacks present on the table, will break one of
the stacks and will put the chips not owed to the player back into
the chute of the chipper machine.
For example, if the player has bet two chips on a single number and
won, then the croupier must pay him 70 chips of the same color. To
do this, he will take four stacks of 20 chips each, totaling 80
chips, will pass three full stacks to the player and will break the
fourth stack so that the player receives 10 chips. The remaining
ten chips are placed in the chute associated with the chipper
machine.
Further examples of this will be given later.
Having described the usual way of playing the game of roulette, a
description will now be given of how the various items of equipment
present at the roulette table are linked together in accordance
with the present invention and what significance this has to the
assessment of data.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there can be seen the same items of
equipment that are shown in FIG. 1, but also the way they are
interconnected electronically. The same numbers will be used in
FIG. 2 to identify the same items, as are identified by them in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows in addition the table communication bus 60, to which
all the items of FIG. 1 having an electronic interface are
connected. Thus, the interface 62 links the chipper machine 14 to
the table communication bus 60. The card reader 36 is associated
with the table terminal 24, which is connected to the table
communication bus 60. Equally, the roulette number display 26, the
electronic chip tray 16, the automatic number detection system 28,
the chip value and payout display 30 and the player stations 34 are
connected to the table communication bus 60 via suitable interfaces
(not shown). A central data processing unit 64 is coupled to the
table terminal and to the table communication bus via one or a
plurality of Ethernet hubs or switches 66, which distribute the
Ethernet network from the central data processing unit 64 to the
table terminals 24 of a plurality of gaming tables in the
casino.
FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show sample screens, which appear on the table
terminal 24 in the preferred embodiment when this table terminal is
realized, in the preferred embodiment, as a graphical screen with
touch sensitive data entry.
As indicated above, when a player first comes to the table, he will
give the croupier either cash or value chips or request a marker
and will tell the croupier of the value with which he wishes to
play. He will also give the croupier his player identification
card, which the croupier will draw or swipe through the card reader
36 at the table terminal 24. This action will lead to the drawing
of FIG. 3 appearing on the screen of the table terminal. The
croupier will select a color chip 70, or possibly a value chip 72,
if color chips are not available or if the player wishes to play
with value chips. If a color chip is selected, then the table
terminal will next show the screen drawing of FIG. 5, which enables
the croupier to touch the screen, so that the desired value is
associated with the color chip. It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the
third color chip of the top row has been selected. In practice this
is shown by the selected color chip lighting up brightly; in the
drawing the selected color chip is indicated by representing the
value of the chip as an outline rather than as a solid number. It
can be seen from the drawing of FIG. 5 that color chips at this
table can have the value $5, $10, $20, or $50, as indicated in
field 82, with the table minimum being $5, as indicated in field
84, and with the actual chip value selected in the case under
discussion being $10, as indicated in field 86. The field 88
indicates the chip color as selected on the screen of FIG. 3. Once
the chip color and the chip value have been fixed, the screen
drawing of FIG. 4 appears, and the croupier can type in the amount
of the drop by the respective player, for example the screen has a
three by three matrix of fields 90 providing for drops of 10, 20,
50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 or 5000 dollars, and the precise
amount of the drop by the individual player can be recorded by
touching the screen at the appropriate field. In the present
example, the player has made a drop of $400, and this is achieved
by pressing the field 200 twice, so that the drop amount of $400
appears in the field 92. Beneath the three by three matrix 90,
there are two further fields, namely 94 and 96 respectively labeled
"cancel" and "enter". Once the croupier has dealt in the drop
amount of 400 and it has appeared in the field 92, he can then
press the "enter" area of the screen to enter this value of the
drop into the computer system. Should he have made a mistake, then
he can press the "cancel" area 94. This then cancels the sum
appearing in the drop field 92 and enables the croupier to type in
the new value as appropriate in the three by three matrix field
90.
If, during the course of a game, a player or patron wishes to buy
further chips, then the croupier will either select the screen
drawing of FIG. 3, which can, for example, be done by pressing the
corresponding color chip field 70 or value chip field 72 relating
to the specific color/value appropriate for that player.
Alternatively, he can once again swipe the player's player card
through the card reader, so that the screen drawing of FIG. 4
appears. He can then enter the drop amount there as previously
described. It will be noted that the first time the player's card
is swiped through the card reader, the screen of FIG. 3 appears.
The next time the same card is swiped through the card reader, the
screen of FIG. 4 will appear. This will also occur for any
subsequent drops by the patron during the same gaming period, i.e.
until the patron leaves the table and is signed off by the
croupier.
Through these various actions, the computer system learns the
identity of the player, from the player identity card, is able to
associate the color and the value of the chip associated with the
player by the entries made by the croupier using the screens of the
FIGS. 3 and 5, and is able to record the amount of any drop by the
player. It should be noted that the method of making the drop, be
it by cash, money play or by marker, as selected by the fields 93,
95 or 97 is irrelevant. In each case the croupier simply enters the
relevant amount using the screen drawing of FIG. 4.
In the case of value chips, it is possible for the croupier to add
these directly to the chip tray. The change in value in the chip
tray is then associated with the drop by the player through the
time association of the input of the player's identity card and the
change in value of the chip tray 16. In this case the table
terminal will indicate the inventory change of the chip tray as
default drop to the croupier. Otherwise the input is then made
manually by the croupier as explained above.
Turning now to FIG. 7, there can be seen the details of a chip
value and payout display 30. Arranged along the top of the display
are sample color chips 101 in each of the different colors
available at the table. Beneath each chip there is a rectangular
field 102 containing a number which is the amount in dollars
associated with the chip immediately above the respective field.
Beneath the left-hand field 102 there are three further fields 104,
106, 108, which show the denominations of value chips that are used
for betting. In the present case, only one value chip is being
played and has the value of $10. The table minimum bet is shown in
the field 110 and the row of fields 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 show
the payment indicators for winning combinations of a particular
patron. Moreover, the black dot shown in each of the fields 112,
114, 116, 118 and 120 indicates where a chip must be placed by a
patron in order to achieve a particular win. Thus, the field 112
shows the case of one chip on a single number, for which the
croupier must pay the patron 35 chips. The field 114 shows a
winning chip bridging two fields, for which the croupier has to pay
the patron 17 chips. In similar fashion, the fields 116, 118 and
120 show other usual payouts which have to be made by the
croupier.
The row of fields 122, 124, 126, 128, 130 positioned above the row
of fields 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 show the number of chips bet
by the particular patron for each of the possibilities shown in the
respectively associated field 112 to 120 or beneath it. The bottom
row of fields 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 show the total number of
chips won by the patron. Thus, the particular play shown in the
diagram of FIG. 7 is a play of ten chips (box 122) on a single
number (box 112) which is won, thus the croupier has to pay
10.times.35=350 chips (box 132) to the particular patron for this
part of his total bet. In addition, the patron has placed one chip
(box 124) on two numbers resulting in a win of 17 chips. The player
has made no bets (boxes 126, 128) of the kinds shown in boxes 116
and 118. Accordingly, he has won no chips, as shown in boxes 136
and 138. However, the patron has bet five chips (box 130) in the
manner shown in box 120, and thus wins a total of 5.times.5=25
chips (box 140) for this bet. The patron to whom this bet relates
is the patron associated with the fourth color chip 101 from the
left in FIG. 7, with a value of $10 per chip. This is emphasized on
the display of FIG. 7 by a brighter lighting of the respective
field 102.
Thus, the player associated with this chip has won a total of 392
chips, as indicated in the "total" box 142, and the chip display
now makes a proposal to the croupier for the manner of payment of
the player. In this case the suggestion is that the player should
receive 192 chips (box 144) and a cash amount of $2000 (box 146),
which may, of course, be paid by value chips or by the return of a
marker or a reduction of the marker amount.
The reason for paying a win in this way is simply that there are
only a limited number of color chips which can be accommodated
conveniently on a roulette table, typically between 300 and 400
chips of each color.
It should be noted that the payment display of FIG. 7 is an
optional feature which can readily be realized using the present
invention, and which is intended to facilitate the work of the
croupier in calculating the wins from complicated bets, such as
those shown above. If the win is more straightforward, for example
1:2 or 1:1, then the croupier will invariably be able to handle
such a bet without the aid of the "win computer" embodied in the
chip value and payout display 30.
The values shown on the chip value and payout display 30 must, of
course, first be entered at the table terminal. This will typically
be done by the croupier calling up a win calculator screen on the
table terminal 24 and typing in the corresponding values by
touching the screen the appropriate number of times.
For this purpose it is most convenient if the table terminal has a
touch-type graphic screen which can be called up by pressing the
corresponding color chip field 70 or value chip field 72 relating
to the specific color/vlue appropriate for that player, which will
bring up a pop-down menu from which the croupier can select the win
calculator and which corresponds to the layout of the chip value
and payout display 30. FIG. 6 shows a preferred screen layout of
the win calculator on the table terminal. The display makes it easy
for the players to check that the croupier is behaving fairly and
also enhances the atmosphere at the roulette table associated with
a good win.
The chipper machine, which is known per se, for example from U.S.
Pat. No. 4,157,139, has the function of sorting chips of a
particular color into particular columns. For this it is provided
with sensors for recognizing the different types of chip. The
output signals from the sensors are used to steer gates, through
which the chips are fed into the individual columns, usually using
solenoid operated plungers to push the chips into the respective
columns. Modern chipper machines are also able to sort value chips
and, in order to avoid too many columns, will sort several
denominations into one column but will still individually count the
chips per denomination. Modern chipper machines provide a
communication port via which the interface 62 can interrogate the
internal meters of the chipper machine for the number of sorted
chips. For older machines, the interface 62 requires tapping of the
solenoids driving the plungers and a clock signal active for every
chip sorted. The information is then sent to the computer system
64.
On first using the chipper machine, the sequence of the chips in
the chipper machine is first specified in the programming/learn
mode of the chipper machine. This normally takes place by throwing
the chips into the chipper machine in the desired sequence, in
which the chips are to be output in the columns of the chip sorting
machine. This would normally be the same sequence as is shown in
the display of FIG. 7.
The interface 62 (FIG. 2) transmits the sum of the sorted chips as
n-position values in blocks of numbers in the sequence in which the
chips are pushed out into the columns of the chipper machine. At
the table terminal 24, the chips are also shown, in the diagram of
FIG. 3, in the order in which they are fed into the chipper
machine. In this way the action of the chipper machine, the display
of the table terminal of FIG. 3 and the output display of FIG. 7
are coordinated with one another, i.e. the sequence of the color
chips is the same in all of them.
Having described the various items of hardware and electronic
equipment at the table, a description will now be given of the
various assessments that can be made with this equipment.
A description will now be given of the various pieces of
information which the apparatus and method of the invention can
deliver.
a) Patron Win/Loss
As indicated above, roulette is played with color chips, with each
patron receiving chips in his individually allotted color. Some
casinos allow additionally the use of value chips, in which case
only one patron per chip value is allowed in order for it to be
possible to associate each value chip uniquely with an individual
patron. Casinos do allow more than one patron per value chip
denomination in which case patron can only be rated by the floor
person by the classic manual method. It is mandatory for each table
to have differently patterned color chips in order to avoid
different values of the same color chip in a casino. Actually, the
word "color" is misleading, since the chips usually have different
surface decorations and a plurality of different colors in order to
make it possible to distinguish readily between them.
Also as indicated above, when a patron arrives at a table, he buys
color chips at the table minimum or higher value in exchange for
cash, value chips or markers. Markers are casino cheques by which
the patron can draw from his credit or cash deposit account with
the casino. Markers are generally issued by pit clerks and signed
by the patron.
Also as explained previously, the patron is identified by swiping
his player identification card through a card reader. Then the
screen display of FIG. 3 appears, which enables the croupier to
associate a particular color chip or a particular value chip with
that player with a minimum of effort. It should be noted here that
the player need not necessarily have an identity card in which case
an anonymous player identity is created and linked to the player
position. Provision is made for the floor person to enter/retrieve
information concerning the identity of the player at a pit terminal
(not shown in the drawings) associated with the computer system 64.
It should also be noted that the identity of the patron may be his
full name and address, but may also simply be a piece of
information uniquely identifying him, such as his position at the
gaming table, or his room number if he is staying in a hotel
associated with the casino.
Following the entry of the identity of the player, and the
selection of a chip using the touch screen display of FIG. 3, the
touch screen diagram of FIG. 5 appears. The croupier can enter the
value of the chip which is associated with the player in question.
In the example of FIG. 5 the table minimum is $5 per chip and the
player has elected to play with the chip value of $10 per chip.
After this entry, the computer knows that player X is playing with
chips of a particular color and that each chip has a value of $10.
After allotting the chip value of $10, the screen drawing of FIG. 4
automatically appears. The croupier can use the touch screen to
enter the drop amount by the player X--in the example of FIG. 4,
$400. Thus, the computer now knows the player's identity, the color
of chip he is playing with, the value associated with each color
chip and the amount he has initially paid in.
Once this has been completed, the croupier passes color chips of
the selected color to the player X to the value of $400, i.e. 40
chips. He does this by taking two of the stacks 38 on the roulette
table 10. The same procedure is followed for all other players at
the table. Thereafter, the game commences. Each time the player
loses, the color chips he has placed on the table are scooped into
the inlet chute of the chipper machine 14 and are automatically
sorted by the chipper machine 14. Each time he wins, he is given
chips by the croupier.
Each patron may need to buy further chips in the course of the game
if he wishes to continue playing at the table. If this occurs, the
croupier either selects the screen drawing of FIG. 3, and then the
chip of the patron on the screen, or he once again swipes the
player's card through the card reader. In both cases the screen
drawing of FIG. 4 automatically appears for him to enter the new
drop amount. The total of the drop amounts made by a patron during
a period at the gaming table is summed by the computer 64 and
stored in a memory associated with the computer 64.
If the player wins, then his wins would normally be paid in color
chips, provided sufficient color chips are still available on the
table. If this is not the case, then the balance of a win can be
paid to the player in value chips. When the patron wants to leave
at this stage, the croupier will pay the win in value chips, should
he use the win calculator or the table terminal he will set the
amount of color chips on the screen FIG. 6 to zero so that the win
can be paid in value chips and preferably done using the facility
of the payout display of FIG. 7. The screen FIG. 6 allows the entry
of play chips the patron may hand to the croupier at this time. If
the croupier does not use the win calculator the change in the chip
tray inventory will trigger the table terminal to present a screen
asking for the player position the amount of value chips was paid
to.
When the patron leaves the table, various situations are possible.
The patron may have lost all his chips and is simply walking away.
In this case, the croupier will log off the patron at the table
terminal, or at the table terminal, if provided, thus freeing the
color chip for another patron.
The patron may have had a superb win and will indicated that he
wants all his win paid in value chips. In this case the number of
value chips required is taken from the chip tray and passed to the
player in the same manner that occurs when the player has to be
paid with value chips during the course of a game, and thus this
payment to the player, a win by the player, is recorded by the
computer in the way described previously. If necessary, the win
calculator function can be used to determine the amount to be paid
in value chips. The patron may hand his remaining color chips to
the croupier, in which case the croupier will enter the number of
color chips at the table terminal as a "walk" amount.
The patron may just want to leave without a high win after a
particular spin of the roulette wheel. In this case the croupier
will enter the number of color chips received. Should the croupier,
however, just take the value chips from the chip tray and hand them
to the patron, the system will automatically determine a decrease
of the chip tray inventory, will flip up the payout screen to enter
the walk amount of value chips at the table terminal and alert the
croupier by light and/or sound to enter information concerning the
patron, and/or his position at the table, and/or color of color
chip.
b) Total Amount Bet by a Patron
It will be appreciated that the total amount paid in by the patron
is not the same thing as the total amount bet. During the play at
the roulette table, the patron will sometimes lose and sometimes
win. Thus, the number of chips he has purchased will pass to and
fro between him and the croupier. The total amount bet by the
player will increase accordingly.
In accordance with the present teaching, this total amount bet is
detected by detecting the number of chips of the particular color
sorted by the chipper machine.
As explained previously, when a player wins, the croupier will take
a number of stacks of chips, pass the patron a certain number of
whole stacks and a broken stack and will return the extra chips
from the broken stack into the chipper machine. This actually means
that the chipper machine sorts rather more chips than the player
has actually bet.
In order to make this clearer, two different examples will now be
given. These examples allow an estimation of the discrepancy or
error in assuming that the total number of chips sorted by the
chipper machine corresponds to the total amount bet by the player.
The two examples will reflect different house rules of the
casino.
Each of the two examples lists the most frequent winning
combinations encountered when playing the game of roulette, which
are also the most frequent combinations selected by the
players.
EXAMPLE 1
No. of chipstacks Win in number (20 chips Chips cut of chips paid
to each) into chipper Winning chips player stacks chips machine 1
on single number 35 2 40 5 2 on single number 70 4 80 10 3 on
single number 105 6 120 15 4 on single number 140 7 140 0 1 on
split 17 17 1 20 3 2 on split 34 34 2 40 6 3 on split 50 51 3 60 9
4 on split 68 68 4 80 12 1 number + 1 split 52 3 60 8 2 number + 1
split 87 5 100 13 3 number + 1 split 122 6 120 2 extra chips taken
1 number + 2 split 69 4 80 11 2 number + 2 split 104 6 120 16 3
number + 2 split 139 7 140 1 1 number + 3 split 86 5 100 14 2
number + 3 split 121 6 120 1 extra chip taken 3 number + 3 split
156 8 160 4 1456 1580 127
EXAMPLE 2
Win in No. of chip- number of stacks (20 Chips cut chips chips
each) into chipper Winning chips paid to player stacks chips
machine 1 on single number 35 2 40 5 2 on single number 70 4 80 10
3 on single number 105 6 120 15 4 on single number 140 7 140 0 1 on
split 17 17 1 20 3 2 on split 34 34 2 40 6 3 on split 51 51 3 60 9
4 on split 68 68 4 80 12 1 number + 1 split 52 3 60 8 2 number + 1
split 87 5 100 13 3 number + 1 split 122 7 140 18 1 number + 2
split 69 4 80 11 2 number + 2 split 104 6 120 16 3 number + 2 split
139 7 140 1 1 number + 3 split 86 5 100 14 2 number + 3 split 121 7
140 19 3 number + 3 split 156 8 160 4 1456 1620 164
Thus, in example 1 the player may place one chip on a single
number. If this number wins, he will receive 35 chips from the
croupier. This means the croupier will take two stacks of 20 chips
each, thus totaling 40 chips, will break one of the stacks and will
return five chips into the chipper machine. If the patron has
played two chips on a single number, then his win is 70 chips. For
this, the croupier will take four full stacks totaling 80 chips and
will return 10 chips into the chipper machine. Similarly, if the
player plays three chips on a single number and wins, then the
croupier has to give him 105 chips. For this the croupier will take
six chip stacks, will break one of them and return 15 chips to the
chipper machine. Should the patron have played 4 chips on a single
number, then his total win would be 140 chips, equal to 7 full
stacks.
The other possible combinations can be understood in the same
sense. Of interest for this example is the case when the player
places three chips on a number and one chip on a split (which will
also involve the same number). In this case the three chips on the
one number means a win of 105 chips, and the one chip on the split
means a win of 17 chips, and the sum total 105+17=122 chips.
It would be possible for the croupier to take seven stacks and
return 18 to the chipper machine. However, in the case of example
1, the house rules of the casino tell the croupier that with a
number such as this, he should only take six full stacks, totaling
120 chips, and extract two further chips from the chipper
machine.
Another example, where the croupier, operating in accordance with
the house rules of a particular casino, takes an extra chip from
the chipper machine, is shown in the penultimate entry of example
1. Here the patron has bet two chips on a single number and three
chips on a split, which will also involve the single number. For
the two chips on the single number he will have won a total of 70
chips, and for the three chips on a split, he will have won
3.times.17=51 chips. The total of 121 chips (70+51=121) is paid to
the patron by the croupier by taking six full stacks and one extra
chip from the chipper machine.
Clearly, whenever the player loses, his chips are placed by the
croupier in the chipper machine. Since full stacks are formed by
the croupier from chips taken from the individual columns of the
chipper machine, all the chips paid to the patron have been through
the chipper machine and thus counted by the system.
Thus, if the wins are distributed equally, the total number of
chips in the chip stacks summed over all these examples is 1580, of
which 1456 have been paid to the patron, and 130 have been returned
to the chipper machine. Since three extra chips were taken from the
chipper machine, in fact a total of 127 were returned to the
chipper machine. 127 represents 8.52% of 1580. Accordingly, for
this particular casino, the total number of chips having passed
through particular patrons through the chipper machine should be
reduced by 8.52% to arrive at a value which, while still not 100%
accurate, nevertheless represents a good estimate of the total
amount bet by the patron sufficient for subsequent analysis.
In example 2, different house rules apply. In this case no extra
chips are taken from the chipper machine, but rather a whole number
of stacks is always broken, with chips being returned to the
chipper machine. Thus, whereas for three chips placed on a number
and one chip placed on a split, two extra chips were taken from the
chipper machine in example 1. Example 2 provides for the croupier
to take seven whole stacks and to break one stack and return 19
chips to the chipper machine rather than taking one extra chip from
the chipper machine as in example 1.
The result in the present case is that a total of 1620 chips have
been through the chipper machine, 1456 have been returned to the
player and the number of chips counted by the chipper machine is
higher by 164 than the total amount bet by the player. Thus, in
this case, a correction factor of 11.26% can be considered as
appropriate. Again, it must be noted that this is not an absolutely
accurate calculation of a total amount bet by the patron, but is a
statistically reasonable approach to assessing the total amount bet
by the patron, based on an observation of a patron's playing
behavior over a long period of time.
The assessment of the player's total turnover in this way is
important for several reasons. First of all, the turnover is the
win potential for the casino from this patron and the base for
"Frequent Player Programs", it enables the casino to see whether
the patron is an important patron of the casino and whether special
attention should be paid to him to encourage him to continue using
the casino. Secondly, for such an important patron, it would be
possible to build up a data base over a longer period of time
showing whether the total amounts won or loss in relation to
turnover are reasonable having regard to the house advantage or
whether there is some element of the patron's play which is
suspicious. Thirdly, the assessment of the total amount bet by each
patron is the key to assessing the turnover of the croupier and to
monitoring the performance of the croupier.
c) Total Turnover of the Croupier
As mentioned above, it is conventional for croupiers to work for
periods of about 45 minutes and to then take a break. By requiring
the croupier to sign on and sign off at the table, which can be
done by drawing his card through the card reader, it is possible
for the computer 64 to recognize which croupier is present at the
table and for the play during the period in which a particular
croupier is working at the table to be associated uniquely with
that croupier.
It is not necessary for the croupier to both sign on and sign off.
The signing on of one croupier can automatically be used to sign
off the previous one. This is preferred because it reduces the
burden on the croupier.
Through the signing on and off of the croupiers, the computer
system is put in the position of being able to associate activities
at the table with a particular croupier. This is necessary to
detect the croupier's performance.
The total turnover achieved by a croupier in any one working period
is simply the sum of the total amounts bet by the individual
patrons during this period.
It was already explained above in detail under section b) how the
turnover of individual patrons is assessed. By knowing the time at
which a croupier arrives at the table and subsequently leaves it,
it is possible to deduce from the data relating to the total amount
bet by a patron, as stored by the central processing unit 64 and
based on information from the chipper machine, the amount the
particular patron bet during a particular working period of the
croupier concerned. This also makes it possible to take account of
people arriving at or leaving the table during such a working
period. It will be appreciated that the computer 64 when recording
pieces of information, such as the sorting of a number of color
chips by the chipper machine 14, or a payout from the chip tray 16,
will record a time against each such piece of data and that the
different time entries can be used to associate the total amount
bet by a patron within the working period, with the croupier
controlling the gaming at the table during that working period.
d) Win or Loss of the Croupier
To determine the win and loss achieved by the croupier the
financial status of the table at the beginning and the end of a
working period is captured. The financial table status of a table
is determined by the cash and marker drop and the chip tray
inventory relative to the opening inventory when the table opened
or the shift started. Non gaming influences on the chip tray such
as chip fills and credits from and to the chip bank have to be
accounted for by the computer system 64. Again, the signing on and
off of the croupier results in time signals, which enable drops
made by the individual patrons and the taking of winnings during
the working period to be associated by the central processing unit
64 with a particular croupier. The win and loss determined in this
way is not strictly speaking accurate because it does not take
account of the influence of the different quantity of color chips
which are in the patron's possession at the start and end of the
play. However, if the croupier's performance is measured over a
sufficient number of working periods, the influence of the color
chips held by the patrons balances out over an adequately long
period, so that a high level of confidence can be achieved that the
assessment of the croupier's performance is correct.
This possibility of summing the total amount won or lost by a
croupier over a longer period of time and simultaneously knowing
the total turnover achieved by the croupier in that period of time
provides a very powerful tool for analyzing the croupier's
performance. As already mentioned, there is a known house advantage
for the casino, so that statistically speaking over a longer period
of time the casino should have made a win of 2.7% of the total
turnover for French roulette, with a single zero, or 5.28% for
American roulette with a double zero. Thus, a good croupier is one
who achieves a high turnover and the house advantage based on that
turnover.
On the other hand, when the turnover is high, but the net win by
the croupier falls significantly short of the house advantage, this
is suspicious and requires further investigation. It is natural, in
a game of chance, for the croupier to have some days in which his
net win is low, or in which he even makes a loss. However, on
average he should be achieving the house advantage. Should
statistical observation, however, show that the croupier's overall
performance is significantly below the house advantage, and that
the periods in which his performance is poorest correspond to a
particular patron participating in the game of roulette and making
a significant win, then this suggests that there may be some
collusion between the croupier and the patron, for example that the
croupier is indulging in so-called sector spinning and has given
the patron the tip that he should place his bets on particular
numbers in order to have an increased chance of winning.
As further confirmation of such a suspicion, it will be possible to
analyze the statistical information from the detector 28 to see if
this also correlates with particular wins by a particular
patron.
This statistical assessment of a croupier's performance can, for
example, take place on the following basis:
For French roulette (single zero) the mean win for a randomly
placed bet of one chip is .mu.=0.0270 chips, with a standard
deviation of .sigma.=4.113 chips. For American roulette (double
zero), it is .mu.=0.0528 and .sigma.=4.068 chips.
As a rough assessment, it can be assumed that for each spin of the
roulette wheel there are 60 stakes (individual bets) placed on the
table, that the croupier performs 40 spins each shift and does 40
shifts a week. Based on this assumption, the following Table I
reveals the number of weeks a croupier has to be observed to
retrieve relevant assessment data.
TABLE I Confidence Levels in Croupier Assessment Confidence Number
of Pockets Coefficient Deviation bets Weeks 37% 90% 33% 342 000 3.6
50% 152 000 1.6 100% 38 000 0.4 95% 33% 564 000 5.9 50% 250 000 2.6
100% 63 000 0.7 99% 33% 1 130 000 11.8 50% 501 000 5.2 100% 125 000
1.3 38 90% 33% 88 000 0.9 50% 39 000 0.4 100% 9 800 0.1 95% 33% 145
000 1.5 50% 64 000 0.7 100% 16 000 0.2 99% 33% 290 000 3.0 50% 129
000 1.3 100% 32 000 0.3
Furthermore, the table shows only negative deviations from the
expected win (one sided test), as a higher win than the expected
win could never harm a casino.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the shaded columns in the diagram show the
win a certain croupier produces for the casino. Having observed a
croupier for at least 25 days, average win data is relevant. So if
the win for this croupier falls under the dotted line after more
than 25 days of observation, one can be sure to 90% that this
croupier produces an average win which is 33% less than the average
casino win.
Another factor of uncertainty in croupier rating for American
Roulette is the fact that wheel checks (value chips) in player's
hands cannot be registered by the electronic chip tray and thus
might cause inaccuracies in chip tray measurement. Studies have
shown that uncertain wheel check positions increase the observation
period by only 5.5%. This corresponds to two further days maximum,
if the results derived should be within a confidence level of
95%.
As further background to the present invention some statistical
details will now be given with respect to the statistical
background of roulette:
Win, Mean and Standard Deviation
The means of the casino's win for the single zero and the double
zero roulette and their standard deviations can approximately be
calculated from the following Tables II and III:
TABLE II Means and standard deviations for different bets, assuming
a one chip stake, at the game of roulette with 37 numbers (single
zero). Numbers Possible Possible Win Standard in Bet Possibilities
Loss Win Probability Mean Variance Deviation 1 37 = 23.57% 35 1
0.0270 0.0270 34.080 5.838 2 60 = 38.22% 17 1 0.0541 0.0270 16.567
4.070 3 14 = 8.92% 11 1 0.0811 0.0270 10.729 3.276 4 23 = 14.65% 8
1 0.1081 0.0270 7.810 2.795 6 11 = 7.01% 5 1 0.1622 0.0270 4.891
2.212 12 6 = 3.82% 2 1 0.3243 0.0270 1.972 1.404 18 6 = 3.82% 1 1
0.4865 0.0270 0.999 1.000
TABLE II Means and standard deviations for different bets, assuming
a one chip stake, at the game of roulette with 37 numbers (single
zero). Numbers Possible Possible Win Standard in Bet Possibilities
Loss Win Probability Mean Variance Deviation 1 37 = 23.57% 35 1
0.0270 0.0270 34.080 5.838 2 60 = 38.22% 17 1 0.0541 0.0270 16.567
4.070 3 14 = 8.92% 11 1 0.0811 0.0270 10.729 3.276 4 23 = 14.65% 8
1 0.1081 0.0270 7.810 2.795 6 11 = 7.01% 5 1 0.1622 0.0270 4.891
2.212 12 6 = 3.82% 2 1 0.3243 0.0270 1.972 1.404 18 6 = 3.82% 1 1
0.4865 0.0270 0.999 1.000
To obtain overall estimations for the mean and the standard
deviation, one would have to know the average frequencies for each
bet. As a first approach, one can take the number of possibilities
for each bet given in Table II and Table III, and calculate
averages for mean and variance. This leads to:
TABLE IV Overall means and standard deviations for the single zero
and the double zero roulette Roulette Std. Type Mean (.mu.)
Variance (.sigma..sup.2) Deviation (.sigma.) Single 0.0270 16.920
4.113 Zero Double 0.0528 16.549 4.068 Zero
Minimum Sample Size Estimation
As well known in statistics, the mean X of a sample of size N can
be compared against the mean .mu. of the whole distribution by
calculating ##EQU1##
and comparing the result z, which is the normalized deviation of
the sample mean X of the corresponding overall distribution mean
.mu., with a table of the quantiles of the Gaussian distribution.
Of course, this depends on the assumption that the sample has been
taken from a normally distributed entity, but from the
LINDEBERG-LEVY theorem we know that the distribution of a sample's
mean is asymptotically normal, as long as both a mean and a
variance exists for the distribution the sample is taken from. This
means that Formula 1 can be taken as a good approximation as long
as N is not too small.
From Formula 1, one can easily derive ##EQU2##
which is an estimate for the sample size needed to detect a given
deviation from the distribution's mean.
As an example for the single zero roulette, if one wants to detect
a 33% deviation from the mean with a confidence coefficient of 90%,
N has to be approximately 342 000. This means that the croupier has
to be observed for about three and a half weeks to get the desired
result.
The mean for the double zero roulette is about double the one for
the double zero roulette. Therefore, the sample size necessary is
much less; it has to be approximately N=88 000. Using the
assumptions above, we find the time period necessary to detect the
mentioned deviation to be less than one week.
Recalculating the sample sizes necessary to detect a 50% deviation
at a confidence level of 95%, one obtains N=250 000, corresponding
to about two and a half weeks (single zero) and N=64 000,
corresponding to about five days (double zero).
As mentioned above, wheel checks (value chips held by patrons at
the table) can cause problems.
Problem Description
The variance of the win, as shown in Tab II, Tab. III and Tab. IV,
has to be increased due to the uncertainty caused by the unknown
amount of wheel checks possessed by the players at the table at the
time of shift change. To obtain an estimate for this influence,
some assumptions must again be made, which--on an average--are
fulfilled in practice:
At each time, there are five players at the table;
The croupier performs 40 spins each shift;
At each spin there are 60 stakes placed on the table;
Each stake contains 2 chips;
The amount of wheel checks lies between 0 and 100 (both included)
and is evenly distributed.
Mean and Variance (Wheel Checks)
In general, mean and variance of an evenly distributed, discrete
random variable with consecutive integer values from the interval
[a,b] can be computed as follows ##EQU3##
In the present case (a=0, b=100) the results are .mu.=50 and
2.sigma..sup.2 =850.
From the assumptions made in the section "Problem Description", it
is obvious that the distribution of the wheel checks held by all
players at shift change is the sum of five independent
distributions, thus having a mean of .mu.=5.times.50=250 and a
variance .sigma..sup.2 =5.times.850=4 250. Therefore, mean and
variance for the difference between begin and end of a croupier's
shift are .mu.=250-250=0 and .sigma..sup.2 =4250+4250=8 500.
Mean and Variance (Croupier's Win)
Following the assumptions above, a croupier has to handle 2 400
stakes with a total of 4 800 chips in one shift. The mean and
standard deviation for his win can be calculated, based on the
results given in Table IV. From there, .mu. has to be multiplied by
2 (average number of chips per stake) and by 2 400 (number of
stakes), while .sigma..sup.2 has to multiplied by 22 and by 2 400.
The results are summarized in Table V:
TABLE V Means and standard deviations for a croupier's win during
one shift, not including the uncertainty caused by wheel checks.
Roulette Std. Deviation Type Mean (.mu.) Variance (.sigma..sup.2)
(.sigma.) Single Zero 129.73 162 432.79 403.03 Double 253.42 158
865.91 398.58 Zero
How Wheel Checks Effect Sample Size
The above discussion shows how the variance of the croupier's win
within one shift increases by approximately 5.5% for both types of
roulette, due to the uncertainty caused by the wheel checks. From
Formula 2, it can be seen that the sample size depends linearly on
the variance of the entity the sample is taken from, and therefore
increases by the same ratio.
e) Working speed of the Croupier
One factor of interest to a casino is how quickly the croupier
works. The quicker he works, the more turnover is achieved within a
particular period of time and the greater is the profit to the
casino. One simple measure for the working speed of a croupier is
to count, for example, the number of spins of the roulette wheel he
achieves per hour, or an equivalent value such as the average
duration of a spin of the roulette wheel 12. This information can
readily be obtained by the central processing unit 64 either from
the detector 28 or by analyzing the periods of activity of, for
example, the chipper machine 14. The activity of the chipper
machine will typically be at an increased level at the end of each
spin of the roulette wheel when the croupier collects the losing
bets.
Another useful measure of the croupier's performance is the total
number of chips sorted by the chipper machine in a particular
period. Clearly, if more players are present at the table, the
duration of each spin of the roulette wheel, the collection of lost
bets and the payment of winnings will take rather longer than if
only one or two patrons are playing at the table.
f) Section Spinning Indication
The detector 28, which can be designed in accordance with the PCT
application with the publication number WO95/28996 provides
information on the speed of the ball in the upper rim of the
roulette wheel, the speed and direction of the cylinder of the
roulette wheel, and the relative position of the cylinder to the
ball and to the segment into which the ball falls. This information
may be used to detect the position of the ball in the moving
roulette wheel and illuminate the display to indicate the winning
number to the patrons and to collect information for statistical
processing. It is stated that the latter enables the casino to
check that the wheel and its croupier are operating fairly and
without bias. However, no particulars of how this check is made are
given.
The present teaching recognizes that the data achieved from the
detector can be used to see if it is statistically significant. For
example, the frequency with which a particular number occurs should
be randomly distributed. Equally, a check can be made to see
whether the set of parameters such as the speed of and the phase
between the cylinder and the ball are randomly scattered out as
with other croupiers or if the parameters indicate a rhythmic
spinning by this croupier which again suggests that section
spinning could be practiced.
Finally, it should be noted that not all of the electronic items
recited in connection with FIG. 2 are necessary for each of the
assessments mentioned above. All the comments made below assume
that a central processing unit 64 or at least a computer associated
with the particular gaming table or a group of gaming tables is
present for data storage and analysis.
Thus, for assessing the patrons, so-called patron rating (total
amount bet), it will be sufficient to provide only a chipper
machine 14 with an interface 62 and a table terminal 24, into which
the croupier would be expected to type in all other relevant data.
However, to make the system more comfortable for the croupier to
use, it is preferable to provide a chip value and payout display 30
in accordance with FIG. 7.
To determine the patron win or loss, it is necessary to have the
table terminal 24 and the electronic chip tray 16 and it will help
the croupier a lot to have the chip value and payout display
30.
To perform the croupier assessments, it is necessary to have the
chipper machine 14 with the interface 62 and the table terminal 24.
In order to determine the number of spins per unit time, it is
necessary to either derive this information from the activity of
the chipper machine or to provide the detector 28. To obtain
information concerning the net win or loss by the croupier, it is
necessary to have as a minimum the table terminal 24 and the
electronic chip tray 16. In order to determine possible section
spinning, the minimum requirement is the table terminal 24 and the
automatic number detection system 28.
The roulette number display 30 and the automatic number detection
system 28 are useful for providing customer information.
It will, of course, be appreciated that the realization of the
table terminal with various graphic touch screens and the precise
layouts of these touch screens and the information contained on
them are matters which can be varied significantly without
departing from the present teaching. The versions given here
represent the best embodiment known to the inventor.
* * * * *